Risk factors for substance-related acute toxicity deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2021: Findings from the 2016 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort

Critically high numbers of poisoning-related deaths, also known as acute toxicity deaths (ATDs), occur every year in Canada, with the number of deaths attributed to accidental drug poisonings having increased dramatically since 2016. Research about the age, sex, and geographic location of people dying of acute toxicities in Canada show that some populations are disproportionately affected. However, national-level information about decedents’ socioeconomic characteristics remains limited. This study identifies populations facing higher (or lower) rates of ATDs, based on age-standardized mortality rates, relative to a comparison group, using integrated Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort data.